G L I D E H O Y A S: Hoyas glide on the road to victory at the John Wooden Classic 74-66

Coach John Thompason III give sense of urgency direction in John Wooden Classic 12.12.09

John Wooden Classic Wooden Classic Winners 12..12.09

WE ARE GEORGTOWN!

John Wooden Classic Coach from left to right: Rick Stansbury (Mississippi Stae U) John Thompson III (Georgetown), Lorenzo Romar (Washington), Ben Howland (UCLA)

The Hoyas gave Washington all they could handle with their great "team play". Playing in the the John Wooden Classic, an honor the Hoyas will treasure for many years to come had John Wooden in awe after Chris Wright made a perfect pass to Jason Clark cutting to the basket for two points. The Georgetown offense was ran to a perfection. I knew Mr. Wooden loved that play. I knew it brought back many memories for Coach Wooden as he made a statement years ago about the great "Renaissance Rens" saying, "I've never seen a "team" play better "team" basketball than the Renaissance Rens". John Wooden played against the Rens when he was a member of the barnstorming Indianapolis Kautskys during the '30s. "They had great athletes, but they weren't as impressive as their "team play". The way they handled and passed the ball was just amazing to me then, and I believe it would be today. The Harlem Renaissance basketball team, which showcased some of New York City’s greatest black players during the Depression (founded 1923) captured the first world professional championship. John Wooden, the legendary U.C.L.A. coach, once called the Rens “the greatest team I ever saw.” Mostly, the Hoyas remind me of the Renaissance Rens.

Led by preseason All-American center Greg Monroe and a dominating front line, the Hoyas overwhelmed the Huskies' smaller lineup today for a 74-66 victory in the John R. Wooden Classic and the first meeting between the Big East and Pac-10 schools. Monroe came into the game with many accolades but it was junior forward Julian Vaughn who scored a team-high 18 points to lead a balanced Georgetown attack. All five Hoyas starters scored in double figures, including Monroe, who had 15 points, Chris Wright 13, Jason Clark 11 and Austin Freeman 11. The Hoyas never looked back although the Huskies made two run with one run in the final minutes when Washington made a hurried comeback attempt.

Georgetown Hoya players hoisting John Wooden Classic trophy in win over the Washington Huskies

#22 Julian "Ju Ju" Vaughn goes up for one his "thunderous" dunks in win over Washington 12.12.09

One of the fundamental lessons in basketball: Size matters.

#10 Greg Monroe and #22 Julian Vaughn do a great job in defending the interior in 74-66 win over the Washington Huskies at the John Wooden Classic, Anaheim, California 12.12.09